October 200-whatever

(Ida's about 3 months pregnant.)

"Henry? Could you come here for a sec?"

"Don't worry, I'm coming!"

He finished setting up the last touch on the critter trap and went inside.

"Are you okay, honey?"

"Mm hmm. I'm alright. The little ones are kicking. Would you like to feel?"

"Oh, yes. Right away."

Henry lay down on his stomach and caressed mine gently. One of our babies kicked uncomfortably from in the womb.

"There, there. Poppa's here."

That one baby stopped kicking as it heard Henry's buttery voice.

"We promise we'll always keep you safe, even if I have to die for you."

"And so will I."

I began rubbing my belly slowly as well consoling my unborn children.

Then something harshly squeezed my gut and caught me off-guard.

What if... one of them, or even I... don't make it?

Tears formed my eyes. I ducked my head down to hide them from Henry's sight.

"Ida? What's wrong, honey?"

"Nothing."

"Seriously, what is it?"

"Nothing, okay?!"

Henry winced a little. I sighed shakily.

"Okay, the thing is; I'm worried sick for our babies. I'm scared if I end up badly hurt after the birthing, or if one of them or I... DIE!"

At this moment I burst out crying right in front of my husband. He gasped in shock.

"Oh, hun. I should've known about this earlier."

Death was a very serious thing to be worrying about. It was stuck in my mind and it was so effective it wouldn't go away. I felt Henry's paw touch my face.

"Hun, I don't want you to worry. I just want you happy and excited, and besides, how could one of our babies, or you for that matter, die during birth?"

"But what if-"

Henry hushed and stroked my neck gently. I could see all his feelings through his eyes; empathy, sadness, love, persuasion, concern, and saying that everything will be okay.

"It's okay, honey. You'll be fine. Now I just want you to look on a more positive side of things, okay?"

"Like what?"

"I know quite some. Watching them be born, playing with them, being there for them, and most of all, loving them."

This had calmed me down a bit and made me feel love in my heart, so I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a big hug. Tears still rolled down my cheeks and dripped from my lower jaw. I already loved my children even when they weren't even born yet, but I decided I'd keep my head up for the future.

Notes: Did you notice that Good Dinosaur foreshadowing? Tell me if you did!